Education Ministry invites applications for 2024 COL online courses

The Education Ministry (MoE), in partnership with the Skills for Work programme of the Commonwealth of Learning, is currently inviting applications for free online courses via Coursera, Grow with Google or Udemy.
In announcing the registration, the MoE shared, “Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has partnered with Google, Coursera and Udemy to offer the Skills for Work Initiative to enable youth and adults in Commonwealth nations to access high quality skill development courses provided through the world’s leading e-learning platforms, such as Coursera and Udemy.”
The 5,500 programmes offered under Udemy include Health Science, Web Development, Microsoft Excel, Digital Marketing, Leadership and Stress Management. Another 4,000 courses are available through Coursera, and they include Advertising and Media, Tourism, Digitization, Business Development, Entrepreneurship and Office Skills. Grow with Google programmes include five specialized areas in ICT: IT Automation with Python, Data Analytics, IT Support, UX Design, and IT Project Management.
This Skills for Work project is aimed at increasing the chances of employment both at the local level and abroad, and is thus well placed to improve livelihood opportunities among Guyanese. An important facet of the Skills for Work initiative is aimed at closing the skills gap for in-demand and high-demand jobs in Commonwealth Member States.
Skills for Work takes a two-pronged approach. The first is through hybrid models that apply open and distance learning techniques that help women, girls, youth, people with disabilities, entrepreneurs, and the unemployed at the community level to acquire relevant essential skills and access in-country mentorship support.
The second approach features various partnership models, and enhances ODL capabilities of both TVET institutions and other non-governmental organizations involved in skills development. As a result, they are able to share and adapt open educational resources; develop capacity in blended teaching/learning practices; scale up outreach efforts; and respond to market needs.
Over the course of four years, the MoE and CoL have collaborated and facilitated training for over 4,800 Guyanese in alignment with priority needs of the labour market. During the pandemic, Guyana entered into a partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning and Coursera, and in less than 6 months had realised more than 43,305 certificates issued to 9,473 Guyanese, making Guyana a leading country as it relates to registrants and graduates.
The MoE had, at that time, announced free access to 4000 certified online courses following a partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning.
Courses were offered by Ivy League universities and other reputable institutions in areas of study such as Arts, Business, Computer Science, Health, and Engineering on the online platform Coursera.
Persons interested in embracing this self-development opportunity can register at:
https://education.gov.gy/ onlinelearning/.